As a Magic: The Gathering player, I’ve always wondered what the optimal number of cards in a deck is. After all, the game has been around for over 25 years, and there are now thousands of cards to choose from.
With so many options, it can be difficult to determine the best number of cards to include in a deck. In this article, I’ll explore the topic of deck size in MTG and provide some guidelines for determining the best number of cards to include in your deck.
Understanding MTG Deck Formats is essential to determining the best deck size.
Different formats have different rules regarding deck construction and card selection. For example, in the Standard format, decks must contain a minimum of 60 cards, while in the Commander format, decks must contain exactly 100 cards.
In addition, certain formats have restrictions on the number of copies of a card that can be included in a deck. By understanding the rules of each format, you can start to build a deck that is optimized for that format.
Deck Composition Fundamentals are also essential to determining the best deck size. The composition of your deck depends on several factors, including your strategy, color identity, and key cards.
By understanding these factors, you can determine the best number of cards to include in your deck. In the next section, I’ll explore these factors in more detail and provide some guidelines for deck composition.
Key Takeaways – What Is the Best Number of Cards in MTG?
- Understanding MTG Deck Formats is essential to determining the best deck size.
- Deck Composition Fundamentals, including strategy, color identity, and key cards, are also essential to determining the best deck size.
- Optimizing Deck Size requires a balance between card selection, strategy, and format restrictions.
Understanding MTG Deck Formats
As an MTG player, it is important to understand the different deck formats in the game. Formats refer to the different ways in which decks are constructed, and each format has its own set of rules and restrictions. In this section, I will provide a brief overview of the most common MTG deck formats.
Constructed Formats
Constructed formats are the most popular MTG formats. These formats require players to build a deck from their own collection of cards, and the deck must adhere to specific rules and restrictions. The most popular constructed formats are Modern, Standard, Pioneer, Legacy, and Vintage.
- Modern: This format allows players to use cards from the 8th Edition core set and all expansions printed afterwards. The deck must have a minimum of 60 cards and a sideboard of up to 15 cards.
- Standard: This format only allows players to use cards from the most recent sets, usually the last two years. The deck must have a minimum of 60 cards and a sideboard of up to 15 cards.
- Pioneer: This format allows players to use cards from Return to Ravnica and all expansions printed afterwards. The deck must have a minimum of 60 cards and a sideboard of up to 15 cards.
- Legacy: This format allows players to use cards from all sets, but with a banned and restricted list. The deck must have a minimum of 60 cards and a sideboard of up to 15 cards.
- Vintage: This format allows players to use cards from all sets, but with a restricted list. The deck must have a minimum of 60 cards and a sideboard of up to 15 cards.
Eternal Formats
Eternal formats are similar to constructed formats, but they allow players to use cards from any set. The most popular eternal format is Commander.
- Commander: This format requires players to build a 100-card singleton deck with a commander leading the deck. The commander must be a legendary creature or planeswalker, and the deck must adhere to specific color identity rules.
Limited Formats
Limited formats are different from constructed formats because players do not bring their own decks. Instead, players build a deck from a limited pool of cards, usually from booster packs. The most popular limited formats are Sealed and Draft.
- Sealed: This format requires players to open a specific number of booster packs and build a deck from the cards they receive. The deck must have a minimum of 40 cards.
- Draft: This format requires players to pass around booster packs and select cards to build their deck. The deck must have a minimum of 40 cards.
Deck Composition Fundamentals
As a Magic: The Gathering player, one of the most important aspects of deckbuilding is understanding the fundamentals of deck composition. It is essential to have a clear understanding of the different types of cards available, as well as their mana values and how they function in a deck.
Mana Curve Considerations
The mana curve is a fundamental part of deck composition. It is the distribution of mana costs across the cards in a deck. A well-crafted mana curve ensures that a player has access to the appropriate amount of mana at each stage of the game.
When constructing a deck, it is important to consider the mana curve of the deck. A balanced mana curve will have a mix of low-cost and high-cost cards. This ensures that the player has access to spells of different mana values throughout the game.
Balancing Card Types
Another important aspect of deck composition is balancing the different types of cards in a deck. A well-balanced deck will have a mix of creatures, spells, lands, artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers.
Each type of card has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to have a balance of these cards in a deck.
Creatures are the backbone of most decks, and it is important to have a mix of creatures with different mana values and abilities. Spells are also important, and it is important to have a mix of spells that can deal damage, remove creatures, and draw cards.
Lands are essential to casting spells, and it is important to have a mix of basic lands and non-basic lands. Artifacts and enchantments can provide additional benefits to a deck, and it is important to have a mix of these cards as well. Finally, planeswalkers are powerful cards that can turn the tide of a game, and it is important to include a few of these in a deck.
Card Roles and Synergies
As I mentioned earlier, the number of cards in a deck is crucial for its performance. However, it’s not just the quantity of cards that matters, but also the quality of those cards. The roles and synergies of each card can make all the difference in a game of MTG.
Key Combos and Interactions
One of the most exciting aspects of MTG is discovering and utilizing powerful card combos. These combos allow you to create game-changing effects that can quickly turn the tide of battle in your favor.
For example, the combination of [[Teferi, Time Raveler]] and [[Narset, Parter of Veils]] can severely limit your opponent’s ability to draw additional cards, giving you a significant advantage.
Another example of a powerful combo is [[Treasure Cruise]] and [[Dig Through Time]]. Both cards have the Delve ability, which allows you to exile cards from your graveyard to reduce their mana cost.
With these cards in your deck, you can quickly draw through your deck and find the cards you need to win the game.
Card Advantage and Utility
In addition to combos, it’s also important to consider card advantage and utility when building your deck.
Cards that provide card draw, discard, or counterspells can all be incredibly useful in different situations. For example, [[Ancestral Recall]] is one of the most powerful card draw spells in the game, allowing you to draw three cards for only one blue mana.
Removal spells are also crucial for dealing with your opponent’s creatures and other threats. Cards like [[Path to Exile]] and [[Swords to Plowshares]] can remove even the most powerful creatures from the game, giving you a significant advantage.
Optimizing Deck Size
As an experienced MTG player, I have found that optimizing the deck size is crucial for a successful gameplay experience.
The number of cards in a deck affects the consistency of the deck, which in turn affects the chances of drawing the cards you need during a game.
The minimum deck size for most formats is 60 cards, and this is the optimal number of cards to have in your deck. By keeping your deck size at 60 cards, you increase the chances of drawing the cards you need during gameplay.
Having more than 60 cards in your deck will decrease the consistency of your deck and make it harder to draw the cards you need.
In addition to the number of cards, the contents of your library also play a significant role in gameplay.
It is important to have a good mix of land, creatures, spells, and other cards that are relevant to your strategy. This will ensure that your deck is well-rounded and can handle different situations during gameplay.
To ensure that your deck is consistent, it is also important to shuffle your deck thoroughly before each game.
This will help to prevent clumping of cards and ensure that you have a fair chance of drawing the cards you need during gameplay.
Color Identity and Deck Themes
When building a Magic: The Gathering deck, one of the most important considerations is color identity.
Color identity refers to the colors of mana that a deck can produce, as well as the colors of mana symbols in the cards in the deck. Understanding color identity is crucial for creating a cohesive deck that can execute its strategy effectively.
Single vs Multicolor Decks
One of the first decisions to make when building a deck is whether to focus on a single color or to use multiple colors.
Single-color decks can be effective, but they are often more straightforward and less versatile than multicolor decks.
Multicolor decks can access a wider range of cards and strategies, but they can also be more challenging to build and play.
Each color has its own strengths and weaknesses, and different combinations of colors can create powerful synergies.
For example, a red and black deck can leverage the aggressive, direct damage of red cards with the destructive, disruptive abilities of black cards.
A green and blue deck, on the other hand, can focus on ramping up mana quickly and using that mana to cast powerful, game-changing spells.
Color-Specific Strategies
Each color in Magic has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and understanding these can help you build a deck that plays to those strengths.
For example, red is often associated with aggressive, direct damage spells and creatures, while black is known for its ability to destroy creatures and drain opponents’ life totals.
Green, on the other hand, is often focused on ramping up mana quickly and playing large, powerful creatures.
Blue is known for its ability to counter spells and draw cards, while white is often associated with small, efficient creatures and powerful spells that protect those creatures.
When building a deck, it’s important to consider which colors will work best with your chosen strategy.
It’s also important to consider the mana value of the cards in your deck, as well as the staples that are commonly used in each color.
Key Cards and Must-Haves
As an avid MTG player, I have come to realize that the number of cards in a deck is not the only factor that determines a deck’s strength.
The cards you choose to include in your deck can make or break your chances of winning.
In this section, I will discuss some of the key cards and must-haves that every MTG player should consider when building their deck.
Format Staples and Powerhouses
Some cards are so powerful that they have become staples in certain formats.
One such card is Sol Ring. This artifact card costs only one mana and can produce two colorless mana when tapped. It’s a must-have in any Commander deck and is often banned in other formats due to its power.
Another staple in many formats is fetch lands. These lands allow you to search your library for a land of a specific type and put it onto the battlefield. They are highly sought after due to their ability to thin your deck and fix your mana.
When it comes to individual cards, Oko, Thief of Crowns is a powerhouse that has dominated Standard and Modern formats.
This planeswalker can turn your opponent’s creatures into 3/3 Elks, gain life, and draw cards. It’s no wonder that it has been banned in multiple formats.
Influential Cards Across Metas
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is a relatively new card that has already made a big impact across multiple formats.
This one-mana legendary creature can deal damage to your opponent and exile the top card of their library. If it’s a nonland card, you can cast it for free. It’s a versatile card that can fit into many different decks.
Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice is another influential card that has become a staple in Commander decks.
This legendary creature has four abilities and can be built in many different ways. It’s a great card for players who want to experiment with different deck archetypes.
Advanced Strategies and Mechanics
Leveraging Game Mechanics
One of the keys to success in Magic: The Gathering is understanding and leveraging the various game mechanics.
For example, mechanics like Flash, Hexproof, Convoke, Delve, and Cascade can be powerful tools in the right hands.
Understanding how these mechanics work and how to use them effectively can give you a significant advantage over your opponents.
Flash, for example, allows you to play a creature at instant speed, which can catch your opponent off guard and disrupt their plans.
Hexproof makes your creature immune to targeted spells and abilities, which can protect your key creatures from removal spells.
Convoke allows you to tap creatures to help pay for the cost of a spell, which can help you cast powerful spells earlier than your opponent.
Delve allows you to exile cards from your graveyard to help pay for the cost of a spell, which can help you cast powerful spells for less mana.
Cascade allows you to cast a spell for free if it has a lower converted mana cost than the card you cast it from, which can help you get more value out of your spells.
Building Around Win Conditions
Another key to success in Magic: The Gathering is building your deck around specific win conditions.
This means understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your deck and finding ways to maximize your chances of winning.
For example, if you have a deck that is focused on dealing damage quickly, you may want to include cards that give your creatures haste or allow you to deal extra damage.
If you have a deck that is focused on control, you may want to include cards that allow you to counter your opponent’s spells or remove their creatures.
One effective strategy is to build your deck around a specific combo or synergy.
For example, you may want to include cards that work well together, such as a creature that gains +1/+1 counters whenever you cast a spell and a spell that allows you to draw a card whenever you cast a spell.
By building your deck around these synergies, you can create a powerful combination that can quickly overwhelm your opponent.
Navigating Bans and Restrictions
As a competitive Magic: The Gathering player, it is important to understand the game’s banned and restricted list.
The list is updated regularly, and it can have a significant impact on the game’s metagame.
The banned list includes cards that are not allowed in certain formats because they are too powerful or create an unfair advantage.
The reserved list includes cards that will never be reprinted, which means their value will continue to increase over time.
When building a deck, it is important to keep in mind the banned and restricted list.
Certain cards may be legal in one format but banned in another. For example, the card “Lurrus of the Dream-Den” was banned in the Standard format but is still legal in the Historic format.
MTGGoldfish is a great resource for tracking the banned and restricted list. The website provides up-to-date information on the current list, as well as historical data on past changes.
Commander is a popular format that has its own unique banned list. It is important to keep this list in mind when building a Commander deck.
Certain cards, such as “Sol Ring” and “Mana Crypt,” are banned in the format because they are too powerful and create an unfair advantage.
Related Reading: Best Number of Cards in MTG
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Frequently Asked Questions – What Is the Best Number of Cards in MTG?
How many cards make up an ideal Magic: The Gathering deck?
The ideal number of cards in a Magic: The Gathering deck is 60. This is the minimum number of cards allowed in a standard deck, except for limited formats like Draft or Sealed, where players can build decks with a minimum of 40 cards.
What is the optimal creature count in a 60-card MTG deck?
The optimal creature count in a 60-card Magic deck can vary depending on factors like mana curve, average CMC, deck strategy, and win conditions. However, a good rule of thumb is to include around 20-25 creatures in your deck.
Is there a recommended land count for a standard 60-card Magic deck?
As an experienced MTG player, I know that the optimal land count in a 60-card deck can vary depending on factors like mana curve, average CMC, deck strategy, and win conditions. However, a good rule of thumb is to include around 24-26 lands in your deck.
What are the deck size rules for Commander format in MTG?
The Commander format in MTG has a minimum deck size of 100 cards, with no more than one copy of any given card except for basic lands.
How does the number of card copies affect deck construction in MTG?
The number of card copies allowed in a deck can vary depending on the format. In Standard format, players can have up to four copies of any given card in their deck, except for basic lands. In other formats, like Commander, players can have only one copy of any given card in their deck, except for basic lands.
Are there advantages to having more than the minimum deck size in Magic?
In general, having more than the minimum deck size in Magic can dilute the consistency of your deck.
However, there are some formats, like Commander, where having a larger deck size can be advantageous. This is because it allows for more variety and flexibility in your card choices.
